Mechanism for loading sheet material into magazines



Feb. 20, 1951 c. G. PREIS ETAI. 2,542,055

MEcHANIsM FOR LOADING SHEET MATERIAL INT0 MAGAZINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Aug. 5. 1947 INVEORS It 4. im ATTORNEYS Feb. 20, 1951 c. G. PREISETAL 2,542,055

MEcHANIsM EoR LOADING SHEET MATERIAL INT0 MAGAZINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Aug. 5, 1947 Feb. 20, 1951 c. G. PREIS ET AL MECHANISM FOR LOADINGSHEET MATERIAL INT0 MAGAZINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 5, 1947 E NNNEN Si ATRNYS Feb. 20, 1951 c. G. PREIS ETAL,

MECHANISM FOR LOADING SHEET MATERIAL INT0 MAGAZINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Filed Aug. 5 194'? Y li Wiwm@ m E mwN-rom f j ATTORNEYS kvm.

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Patented Feb. 20, 1951 MECHANISM FOR LOADING SHEET MATERIAL INTOMAGAZINES Carl G. Preis, Forest Hills, N. Y., and Ronald E. J.

Nordquist, Maplewood, N. J., assignors to American Can Company, NewYork, N. Y., a corporation of New Jersey Application August 5, 1947,Serial No. 766,342

I Claims. (Cl. 214-6) The present invention relates to a mechanism forloading sheet material into magazines for subsequent feeding therefromand has particular reference to transfer devices for receiving thematerial in stacked formation and for transferring it into a remotelydisposed magazine. This is a companion application to our copendingUnited States applications Serial Number 766,340 flled August 5, 1947 onMechanism for Stacking Sheet Material, Serial Number 766,341 filedAugust 5, 1947 and Serial Number 766,343 led August 5, 1947, onMechanism for Loading Sheet Material into Magazines.

An object of the invention is the provision of a mechanism for loadingsheets of material into magazines for subsequent feeding therefromwherein a magazine of a machine for utilizing the sheet material may bekept constantly supplied with the material from a remotely locatedsource of supply in a highly eilicient manner which facilitates highspeed production and economy of operation.

Another object is the provision of such a mechanism wherein the materialmay be handled in unitary stacks of a plurality of sheets s as toprovide for rapid handling of the material without excessive speed ofoperation.

Another object is the provision of such a mechanism wherein theymaterial in the magazine of the machine which uses it may be readilyreplenished while the machine is in operation without in any mannerinterfering with the feeding of the material from the magazine for usein the machine.

Another object is the provision in such a mechanism of a novel transferdevice wherein stacks of sheet material may be readily transferred froma traveling remotely located sourcev of supply to the magazine of themachine for utilizing the material, in a rapidly smoothly operatingmanner which facilitates high speed operation of the machine.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparentas it is better understood from the following description, which, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a mechanism embodying the instantinvention, with parts broken away and parts shown in section;

Figs. 2 and 3 taken together comprise a transverse sectional view of themechanism shown in Fig. 1, the view being taken substantially along theline 2-2 in that figure, with parts broken away;

Fig. 4 is a sectional View taken substantially along the line 4 4 inFig. 3, with parts broken away, and certain of the .parts shown in adifferent position;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail of parts shown in Fig. 4, withparts broken away; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section taken substantially along the line 6-6 inFig. 2.

As a preferred embodiment of the invention the drawings illustrate amechanism for loading stacks of strips, blanks or sheets A (Fig. 1) ofsheet material, such as tin plate or the like1 into a supply magazine B(see also Figs. 3 and 4) of a strip feed punch press C or other machinefor forming container parts or other articles from the strips or blanksas desired. The stacks of strips A may be received from any suitablesource of supply such as a scroll shear, slitter or other machineremotely located relative to the punch press C. As they are receivedeach stack is deposited on a platform D (Fig. 1) disposed above andadjacent a conveyor E which may be continuously or intermittentlyoperated as desired and which extends from the place of reception of thestacks t0 the punch press C.

Upon/the reception of a stack of strips A on the platform D, theplatform moves down toward the conveyor E and deposits the stack on theconveyor. 'I'he conveyor carries the received stack into a transferstation F disposed adjacent the punch press C. At this station, eachstack of strips as it is received is lifted from the conveyor into atraveling transfer carrier G.

Upon reception of a stack in the carrier, the carrier moves laterallywith respect to the con- `veyor and carries the stack into a positionbelow and in alignment with the magazine B of the press. While in thisalignment, a pusher device H (see also Fig. 4) disposed adjacent themagazine, pushes the stack out of the transfer carrier and deposits thestack into the magazine B through its open bottom. In this manner themagazine B is kept lled with strips without in anyway interfering withfeeding or removal of the strips individually from the top of themagazine for use in the punch press. I

In the mechanism, the conveyor E comprises a plurality of endless chainsIl (Figs. land 2) disposed in spaced and parallel side-by-side relationand extending the full length of the mechanism. There are three of thesechains Il and each chain carries a plurality of short flats or treads I2which provide a continuous table or support for carrying the stacks ofstrips A.

The chains II operate over idler sprockets I4 located at the entrance orreceiving end of the mechanism (at the left as viewed in Fig. 1) anddriving sprockets I5 located at the opposite end of the mechanism. Theidler sprockets I4 are mounted on an idler shaft I6 while the drivingsprockets are mounted on a driving shaft I'I. These shafts are carriedin bearings formed in a frame I8 which constitutes the main frame of themechanism. The driving shaft may be rotated in any suitable manner intime with the various moving parts of the mechanism. Between thesprockets I4, I5, the chains II operate along and are supported againstsagging, by longitudinal chain tracks I9 (Fig. 2) secured to crossrails2U of the main frame I8.

The platform D which initially receives a stack of strips A fordepositonto the treads I2 of the conveyor chains I I for advancementtherewith is located at the entrance end of the conveyor. This platformis a sectional platform comprising sections which extend transversely ofthe mechanism and which are located between the conveyor chains II andimmediately beyond the two outer conveyor chains. 'I'here are thus fourplatform sections for the three conveyors.

The platform sections are mounted on a vertical slide 22 (Fig. 1) whichoperates in a slide bracket 23 the ends of which are secured to the mainframe I8. The slide is reciprocated vertically through a down or stackdepositing stroke and thence up through a return stroke by a lever arm24 having its outer end engaged in the slide. The inner end of the leverarm is mounted on a cross shaft 25 carried in brackets 2'6 which dependfrom the chain tracks I9.

The shaft 25 is rocked in time with the other moving parts of themechanism by an actuating arm 28 which is secured to the shaft. Theouter end of the actuating arm is connected to a piston rod 29 having apiston which operates within a cylinder 3U secured to the main frame.The piston is reciprocated within its cylinder by any suitable fiuidmedium, such as air, or oil under pressure which is introduced into anddischarged from the cylinder by way of pipes or tubes 3i secured in thecylinder adjacent its ends.

Hence when the platform D moves down through a depositing stroke itlowers the stack of strips A down onto the treads I2 of the upper runsof the conveyor chains II and continues on down below the treads so asto clear the stack. This transfers the stack to the conveyor and thusthe conveyor carries the stack forward into the transfer station Fadjacent the punch press C.

At the transfer station F the received stack of strips A is lifted clearof the conveyor E and preferably is swung through an arc toward thetransfer carrier G for deposit thereinto. This removal of the stack fromthe conveyor is eiected preferably by a plurality of hingeable lifterplates 35 which extend transversely of the mechanism. These plates arenormally disposed just below the upper runs of the conveyor chains I Iand between the chains and immediately beyond the two outer chains in amanner similar to the sections of the platform D. There are four ofthese plates for the three conveyor chains.

The lifter plates 35 are secured to a plurality of suport arms 36 whichare formed on a transverse rail 31 (Fig. 2) having pivot lugs 38 locatedat the ends of the rail. These pivot lugs carry short pivot studs 39which extend into brackets 40 bolted to the main frame I8. One of thepivot lugs 38 is formed with a depending actuating arm 43 which isconnected by a link 44 to a slide block 45 4 carried in a slide bracket46 secured to the main frame I8.

The block 45 is connected to a piston rod 41 having a piston whichoperates within a cylinder 48 secured to the main frame. The piston isreciprocated within its cylinder by any suitable fluid medium, such asair, or oil under pressure which is introducedI into and discharged fromthe cylinder by way of pipes or tubes 49 secured in the cylinderadjacent its ends. Reciprocation of the piston lifts the lifter plates35 through an up or lifting stroke and thence down through a returnstroke in time with the'reception of the stacks of strips A at thetransfer station.

The transfer carrier G which receives the stack of strips A from theconveyor chains II is normally disposed at the transfer station F in anangular or inclined position above the conveyor E and extendstransversely of the conveyor in spaced relation thereto so that a stackof strips advancing into the station will readily pass under thecarrier. This carrier comprises a movable hollow rectangular frame 53(Figs. 1, 2 and 4) which is open at top and bottom. The frame is movablysupported by a plurality of rollers 54 which are carried on thetransverse side walls of the frame. The rollers ride on and travel alongtracks 55 which extend transversely of the conveyor E and which projectlaterally toward the punch press C, terminating adjacent the feedin endof the press just beyond but including its supply magazine B. Thesetracks are secured to pairs of connected, arch-forming brackets 58, 59which are bolted to the main frame I8 and a lateral extension 60 of themain frame.

Along its transverse side walls, the transfer frame 53 carries aplurality of stack supporting fingers or elements 65 (Fig. 5) which aredisposed in recesses 66 (see also Fig. 2) formed in the frame walls.These fingers extend up into the transfer frame and at their lower endsare mounted on pivot pins 61 carried in hinge plates secured to theframe side walls (see Fig. 2). The upper ends of the fingers are formedwith stop lugs 68 which normally engage against a pair of transverseguide plates 69 secured to the inner faces of the frame side walls. Flatsprings 19 interposed between the ngers and the frame side walls withinthe recesses yieldably retain the fingers in place. The inner edges ofthe fingers, adjacent the stop lugs are formed with stack supportingledges Il which project inwardly beyond the guide plates 69..

Hence when the lifter plates 35 swing a stack of strips A upwardlytoward the transfer frame 53, the stackenters the frame through its openbottom and is pushed by the plates, past the supporting ledges 'II ofthe finger 65. The fingers move inwardly in their recesses 66 againstthe resistance of their springs 'I0 during this inserting operation. Assoon as the stack is above the ledges 'II of the fingers, the fingerssnap back under the stack. Thus when the lifter plates 35 move downthrough their return stroke they leave the inserted stack within thetransfer carrier, supported on the ledges 'II of the fingers. Curvedportions 'I3 of the guide plates 69 project down below the transferframe and guide the stack into place Within the carrier.

As soon as the returning lifter plates 35 are clear of the transfercarrier 53, the carrier with its stack of strips A is shifted laterallyalong its tracks 55 into a position directly under and in alignment withthe supply magazine B of the punch press C. This shifting of thetransfer car- 8 rier is brought about by a stroke multiplying devicewhich includes a pair of spur gears 10, 11 which mesh with and drive along rack 'Il secured to the transfer carrier.

The gear 18 is mounted on a vertical driving shaft 19 carried in a pairof spaced bearings 80 formed on the adjacent lbracket I8. The gear 11 ismounted on a stub shaft 83 secured in a boss 84 formed on the upperroller track 55. The two gears 18, 11 are rotated in unison and at thesame peripheral speed and direction, by an intermediate gear 88 which ismounted on a stub shaft 81 secured in a boss 08 on the upper rollertrack 55 adjacent the boss 84. This arrangement of driving gears isprovided for extended travel of the rack 1I and the transfer carrierconnected therewith.

The driving gear 16 is rotated by a pinion 8| (Fig. 2) which preferablyis formed integrally with the driving gear. This pinion meshes with andis driven by a rack 82 which slides in a groove 93 formed in the side ofthe upper roller track 55. One end of this rack is connected with apiston rod 94 having a piston which operates within a cylinder 96secured to the upper roller track 55. The piston is reciprocated Withinits cylinder through a carrier advancing stroke (toward the right inFig. 2) andl thence through a return stroke, by any suitable fluidmedium, such as air or oil under pressure which is introduced into anddischarged from the cylinder by way of pipes or tubes 49 secured in thecylinder adjacent its ends. It is the reciprocation of the piston, intime with the other moving parts of the mechanism, that shifts thetransfer carrier G into register with the supply magazine B of the punchpress C.

The supply magazine B is similar in construction to the transfer carrierG but is secured in a stationary position adjacent the punch press C.l

In order to facilitate transfer of the stack of strips A from thecarrier to the magazine, the magazine is located closely adjacent andslightly above the path of travel of the transfer carrier and isdisposed in an angular or inclined position to correspond to theposition of the carrier. The magazine is supported on the upper rollertrack 55 and the lateral extension 60 of the main frame |8.

Like the transfer carrier G, the supply magazine B comprises a hollowrectangular frame |I (Figs. 3, 4 and 5) which remains in a stationaryposition as mentioned above. Along its transverse side walls, themagazine frame carries a pair of guide plates |02 and a plurality ofspring held stack supporting fingers or elements |03 which have stoplugs |04 and support ledges |05 similar to the fingers 05 of thetransfer carrier G and which are disposed in recesses |08 in the frameside walls. These fingers extend up into the magazine frame and at theirlower ends are mounted on pivot pins |01 carried in hinge plates |08secured to the frame side walls (see Fig. 3).

When the transfer carrier G with its stack of strips A comes intoregister with the magazine B, the stack of strips is pushed upwardly outof the carrier through its open top and is pushed directly into thesupply magazine B. 'I'his transfer of the stack is brought about by thepusher device H which is disposed below the path of travel of thetransfer carrier and in line with the supply magazine.

The pusher device H includes a fiat rectangular pusher plate ||5 (Figs.3 and 4) which is slightly it will pass through the transfer carrierwith substantial clearance. This pusher plate is secured to the innerend of a slide ||6 carried in a slideway ||1 formed in a bracket ||8vbolted to the later extension of the main frame I8. The outer end, ofthe slide is formed with a lug |2| which is preferably connected to apiston rod |22 having a piston |23 which operates within a cylinder |24secured to the bracket I8.

The piston |23 is reciprocated within its cylinder by any suitable fluidmedium, such as air or oil under pressure which is introduced into anddischarged from the cylinder by way of pipes or tubes |25 secured in thecylinder adjacent its ends. Reciprocation of the piston moves the slide||6 and its pusher plate ||5 through a forward or pushing stroke andthence through a return stroke.

On the forward stroke of the slide I8, the pusher plate ||5 engagesagainst the bottom of the stack of strips A in the transfer carrier Gand pushes the stack upwardly from the carrier into the supply magazineB through its open bottom end. As the stack enters the magazine, itengages the support fingers |03 which are supporting any strips.alreadyin the magazine, and pushes the fingers outwardly rinto their recesses|06 against the resistance of their springs. As the stack continues itsupward travel it engages against the strips already in the magazine andpushes them further up into the magazine until the entire stack is abovethe support ledges |05 on the fingers. The fingers ithereupon snap backunder the stack.

Thus when the pusher plate ||5 moves down through its return stroke itleavesthe transferred stack within the magazine, supported on the ledges|05 of the support fingers |03. When the pusher plate I5 has moved downthrough the transfer carrier G and is clear of the carrier. the carriershifts back away lfrom the magazine B into its original position overthe conveyor E for the reception of a subsequent stack of strips A and arepetition of its travel to the magazine for another transfer operation.In this manner the magazine B is kept well supplied with strips A sothat the pressC may be maintained in continuous operation.

The punch press C shown in the drawings as an example of a machine forutilizing the strips A fed into the magazine B is of the type disclosedin United States Patent 1,443,761, issued January 30, 1923, to H.Schoendelen on Safety Device for Punch Presses and the Like. Such apress is equipped with vertically movable suction cups 3| (Figs. 3 and4) which move down through the open top of the magazine B, grip theupper strip A, and carry it up out of the magazine into the path of aplurality of stripper fingers |32. The stripper fingers engage behindthe upper edge of the strip A and strip it off the suction cups whilesimultaneously pushing it down against a guide rail |33 secured to aninclined feed table |34 of the press C.

When the strip A is on the table |34, its back end is engaged by one ofa plurality of feed fingers |35 on a reciprocating feed bar |36 disposedin a groove |31 in the table |34. Reciprocation of the feed bar advancesthe strip in an intermittent or step-by-step manner into the press C forthe forming of container parts or other articles therefrom as desired.This is a conventional construction of strip feed presses.

It is thought that the invention and many of smaller in dimensions thanthe strips A so that 78 its attendant advantages will be understood fromthe foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changesmay be made in the form. construction and arrangement of the partswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention orsacrificing all of its material advantages, the form herelnbeforedescribed being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim:

1. A mechanism for loading sheets of material into magazines forsubsequent feeding therefrom, comprising in combination advancing meansfor moving a stack of sheets along a predetermined path of travel andinto a transfer station, a supply magazine spaced from said advancingmeans for receiving and holding sheets for subsequent feeding therefrom,a transfer carrier movable between said advancing means and said supplymagazine, means at said transfer station for removing a stack of sheetsfrom said advancing means and for transferring the stack to saidtransfer carrier, means for moving said transfer carrier through anadvancing stroke and through a return stroke, means for guiding saidcarrier for alignment with said supply magazine, and means disposedadjacent said supply magazine for removing the stack vof sheets fromsaid transfer carrier and inserting it into said magazine formaintaining a supply of sheets in said magazine.

2. A mechanism for loading sheets of material into magazines forsubsequent feeding therefrom, comprising in combination advancing meansfor moving a stack of sheets along a predetermined path of travel, asupply magazine remotely disposed relative to said advancing means andhaving open sides for receiving and holding sheets for subsequentfeeding therefrom, a transfer carrier corresponding in shape and sizewith said magazine and having corresponding open sides, means for movingsaid carrier back and forth between said advancing means and said supplymagazine, means for removing a stack of sheets from said advancing meansand for inserting it into an open side of said transfer carrier, and apusher device disposed adjacent said supply magazine and operableagainst the sheets in the transfer carrier aligned wtih the magazine forpushing the sheets out of the opposite open side of the carrier and intothe adjacent open side of the magazine.

3. A mechanism for loading sheets of material into magazines forsubsequent feeding therefrom, comprising in combination advancing meansfor moving a stack of sheets along a predetermined path of travel andinto a transfer station, a supply magazine remotely disposed relative tosaid advancing means for receiving and holding sheets for subsequentfeeding therefrom, a lifter device disposed at said transfer station andengaging under a stack of sheets received thereat and removing the stackfrom said advancing means, and

a transfer carrier movable across said advancing means and toward saidsupply magazine and receiving the removed stack of sheets from saidlifter device and carrying it to said supply magazine for maintaining asupply of sheets in said magazine.

4. A mechanism for loading sheets of material into magazines forsubsequent feeding therefrom, comprising in combination advancing meansfor moving a stack of sheets along a predetermined path of travel, asupply magazine remotely disposed relative to said advancing means forreceiving and holding sheets for subsequent feeding therefrom, a pair ofspaced and parallel tracks extending from said advancing means to saidsupply magazine, a transfer carrier movable along said tracks andreceiving a stack of sheets from said advancing means and carrying it tosaid supply magazine for maintaining a supply of sheets in saidmagazine, and actuating means connecting with said carrier and shiftingsaid carrier along said tracks through a stack transfer stroke and areturn stroke.

5. A mechanism for loading sheets of material into magazines forsubsequent feeding therefrom, comprising in combination advancing meansfor moving a stack of sheets along a predetermined path of travel, asupply magazine remotely disposed relative to said advancing means forreceiving and holding sheets for subsequent feeding therefrom, a pair ofspaced and parallel tracks extending from said advancing means tov saidsupply magazine, a transfer carrier movable along said tracks andreceiving a stack of sheets from said advancing means and carrying it tosaid supply magazine for maintaining a supply of sheets in saidmagazine, actuating means connecting with said carrier and shifting saidcarrier along said tracks through a stack transfer stroke and a returnstroke, and a stroke multiplying device interposed between said carrierand said actuating means for shifting said carrier through a long strokeduring operation of said actuating means through a short stroke.

6. A mechanism for loading sheets of material into magazines forsubsequent feeding therefrom, comprising in combination an endless chainconveyor for carrying a stack of sheets along a predetermined path oftravel and into a transfer station, a platform disposed adjacent one endof said conveyor for receiving a stack of sheets, said platform beingmovable toward and away from said conveyor for depositing the stack ofsheets onto the conveyor, means for actuating said platform, a supplymagazine remotely disposed relative to said conveyor and at an angle tothe vertical for receiving sheets from the conveyor, yieldable supportngers in said magazine for retaining the sheets therein for subsequentfeeding therefrom, a transfer carrier normally disposed at said transferstation above said conveyor and at an angle to the vertical tocorrespond with said magazine, said transfer carrier being movablebetween said conveyor and said magazine, a pivotally mounted lifterpadat said transfer station and engaging under a stack of sheetsreceived at said station and swinging the stack through an arc into saidangularly disposed carrier, means for actuating said lifter pad,yieldable support fingers in said carrier for holding a received stacktherein, actuating means for shifting said carrier and its stack ofsheets into a position below and in alignment with said magazine, apusher device adjacent said magazine and below the path of travel ofsaid carrier, and actuating means for operating said pusher device forshifting the sheets from said carrier into said magazine.

7. A mechanism for loading sheets of material into a magazine forsubsequent feeding therefrom, comprising in combination advancing meansfor moving a stack of sheets into a transfer station, a supply magazinespaced from said transfer station, said magazine being disposed forreceiving and holding sheets in inclined position, a transfer carriermovable between said advancing means and said magazine, said carrierthroughout its movement having an inclined position corresponding to theinclined position of said magazine, means for moving said carrier backand forth between said transfer station and said 9 10 supply magazine,swinging means locatedf aghsaig REFERENCES CITED transfer station forengaging a stack o ee on said advancing means and for swinging the mlftilggltgexffens are of record in the stack into inclined position andinserting it in said inclined carrier, and sliding means located lUNITED STATES PATENTS adjacent said magazine for transferring the stackNumber Name Date from said carrier into said supply magazine while1.492.334 straight May 6 1924 maintaining its inclined position in themagazine. 2,148,371 Galloway Feb. 21D 1939 CARL G. PREIS. RONALD E. J.NORDQU'IST. l.

